Sheffield United: Lee mounts the case for the defence after revealing source of support

Lee Carsley � BLADES SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

James Shield
Sheffield United

Lee Carsley last night mounted a passionate defence of David Weir and his Sheffield United regime after revealing that David Moyes is backing the former Scotland international’s bid to transform results at Bramall Lane, writes James Shield.

Weir enters tonight’s JP Trophy tie with Hartlepool having lost eight of his first 12 matches since taking charge of the club in June.

Carsley, the 43-year-old’s assistant, admitted he was “not sure” whether they would be given time to resurrect United’s fortunes but said: “We need to be judged at the end of the season, not after two months.

“We’re trying to build something sustainable. When there’s change, there’s bumps and bruises on the way.

“We’re trying to change the brand of the club and what people are paying to see. The manager is a winner and we’re all fighters.

“There’s almost an expectancy here, having lost in play-offs and semi-finals, that things will always go wrong. We’re trying to change that to positivity.

“We have to do something different to the past because what has been done has got us where we are now. We speak all the time to managers we’ve played for and they say stick to your beliefs.”

Moyes endured a wretched start to his managerial career, failing to win any of his first seven league games with Preston North End before arriving at Manchester United via Everton.

Like Weir, Carsley worked under Moyes at Goodison Park and said: “He struggled at first but turned it around and that’s not a bad thing to judged on, is it? To have someone like David’s support is excellent because he’s the best in England.”